Blacks Beach stabber seeks leave to appeal against 7yr sentence

A teenage boy who repeatedly stabbed a sunbaking woman in a random and frenzied attack at a Queensland beach is attempting to appeal his jail sentence.

Blacks Beach, near Mackay, where a woman was stabbed while sunbathing. Photo: Daryl Wright

A teenage boy who repeatedly stabbed a sunbaking woman in a random and frenzied attack at a Queensland beach is attempting to appeal his jail sentence.

The child, who was 16 at the time of the offence, was ordered to serve 50 per cent of a seven-year prison term when he was sentenced for attempted murder in October.

Stabbing victim Kaitlin Jones.

But he has now sought leave to appeal that sentence at a hearing in Queensland’s Court of Appeal on Wednesday.

In September 2021, the boy launched a random attack on Mackay hairdresser Kaitlin Jones as she sunbaked alone at the secluded Blacks Beach near Mackay, stabbing her repeatedly in the head, neck and body.

The boy admitted to authorities that he had attempted similar offending prior to stabbing Ms Jones and revealed he had hunted potential victims and waited in toilet stalls for people to enter so he could stab them.

The sentencing court heard the boy had viewed disturbing online content prior to the incident, including videos of people being beheaded and hardcore pornography.

He also expressed admiration for serial killer Ted Bundy, telling a psychologist he thought the murderer was smart.

Court of Appeal President Justice Debra Mullins along with Justice John Bond and Justice David Boddice reserved their decision.